It was the summer of 2005 somewhere around mid May when normally people sit in the comforts of their air-conditioned homes or offices and go through their daily “activities”. Kids enjoying their summer vacations and having BARF KA GOLAS or the thandi lassi from the roadside shop ANNA or MAMMA or the BHAIYYA. The Maharashtra Electricity Board had to play its crucial part by providing an amazing gift “the load shedding” of roughly 6 hours a day. In all this mayhem, somewhere in an engineering college lab, third year students are waiting for their much awaited PROJECT VIVA which is supposed to be a “very interesting” game between the “EXTERNAL (One Man Army)” and the ”Engineering students(pawns)” in which each of the opponent tries to get the better off the other(99% its always the former) who wins.
Three engineering students A, B and C waiting for their turn for the project ORAL with their project.Which worked till the previous day and only GOD will be able to provide an explanation as to who was that somebody who showered them with some “extra blessings” and the project did not even take the courtesy to show some result. And that is quite normal in an Engineer’s life.
The external was coming to each table and INSPECTING the projects. As the EXTERNAL approached this group heart beats rose, temperatures soared even higher, words flying all over (teri m% df c445, saa&%^, ha#$^^& and then also the families getting involved in all the possible languages) to make that project work.Finally much to the delight of the group the skies opened , GODS descended from the skies and boom the OUTPUT was shown as a result of all the hard work, the toil and the sweat put in it. The group heaved a sigh of relief but little did they know that this was just the tip of the ICE BERG.
It was 1:30 pm the EXTERNAL went for a lunch break. The break was good enough for the Professor but for the students it was like they were sitting on a HOT PLATE. Atlast the examiner came in and called the group in at 2:00 pm for the most awaited, the not so wanted, the gruesome VIVA.
A,B,C sitting in a row opposite to their MENTOR or rather TORMENTOR. He starts on with some basic questions which are answered by the three of them collectively. A starts, B expands and C concludes and vice versa. Its just 10 minutes into the VIVA and the Internal Guide has to leave for some work. Now the 3 are just at the mercy of the MENTOR. He asks to explain the project. So in one sync the 3 of them begin saying “In continuous process plants ……”.The guide now a bit irritated because of the heat says "eka velas ek"(one at a time) so C asks B to continue and B asks A to continue and then for 30 seconds there is a pin drop silence. Nobody willing to say anything. The B takes the courage and starts and then C continues and the final touches given by A. The EXTERNAL seems to be writing something on the paper probably the epitaph for the group.
Now the EXTERNAL wants to get into the details of the project and asks about a transistor used in a part of the circuit. After a quick thinking and in unison the answer comes NPN. Group impressed but EXTERNAL not yet.
Then he asks a couple of questions like in case this is not used what replacement can you provide? One of them replies no replacement possible, part obsolete. External looks a bit impressed by that answer. As if he was going to go and check this part.
Then he asks about the diode and its related circuitry and its specifications and the manufacturer and from where this has been selected. 2 specifications told by each member and then again a silence.
External says “manufacturer kon sangel?(Who will tell about the manufacturer and its references)”. Then as if all the companies belonged to the members of the group the names of the companies were blurted out at liberty…
Atmel, AMD, Fairchild,Texas Instruments
and what not.
The group again a bit impressed by their unique feat of showing off their knowledge about the INDUSTRY.
The examiner in the local language says “hya saglya companya cha aahe references?(Do you have references for these companies)”.
Again silence for about 3 minutes.An then suddenly 1 of them replies the RS CATALOGUE.
The EXTERNAL looks at others to confirm. Then again all of them say yes it is," the RS CATALOGUE waparla jaato(which is used)".A sigh of relief amongst the three.
Then comes the ultimate question. The EXTERNAL shows a circuit and asks which configuration it is.
A says Common Emitter
B says Common Base
C says Common Collector.
Now its the time for the EXTERNAL to get confused. Then B seizes the initiative and then goes for the kill and says its a common base and explains it how it is a common base configuration. A and C do not understand whats going on?
The external nodding his head smiling and politely listening to the explanation. He asks A and C , both of them still confused do not what to say and there is silence again.
Its almost 2:53 pm and the examiner says “Nigha(Leave)..thank you”. The group more than happy to leave say thank you and within seconds are out of sight.
After 4 long months the result is out and the students have done fairly well in their dreaded VIVA. As it looks like they had done some KARMA or PUNYA in their last birth.
